Dubai, UAE — Félix Auger-Aliassime, the rising Canadian tennis star, showcased his resilience at the Dubai Tennis Championships as he overcame Portugal’s Nuno Borges with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Wednesday, marking his entry to the quarterfinals. This accomplishment adds another chapter to what has been an impressive season for the 24-year-old athlete, who is aiming for his third ATP title this year.
After struggling through the opening set against Borges, the world No. 21 showed his mettle by breaking his opponent late in the final set, finally sealing the match with his ninth ace. Auger-Aliassime capitalized on three of his ten break opportunities, demonstrating both precision and persistence against Borges, ranked No. 38. Notably, this match was their first career encounter on the ATP Tour.
Next up for Auger-Aliassime is a challenging match against Marin Cilic, who advanced by defeating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin with scores of 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The upcoming quarterfinal match promises to be exciting, as both players have faced tough competition to reach this stage. Cilic’s resurgence after injuries has been noteworthy, making this match particularly intriguing.
“I’m happy with how I fought through the match,” Auger-Aliassime said after defeating Borges. “Matches like this can be tough, but finding ways to win is what makes the difference.” His strong performances this season already include titles from Adelaide and Montpellier, setting the stage for what could be another significant victory.
Cilic, the 36-year-old Croatian, has also demonstrated his skill and determination, overcoming challenges and bouncing back from earlier setbacks this season. He impressed spectators by defeating second-seeded Alex de Minaur and showing his capability to play tight matches, which he also did against Popyrin. Cilic currently leads their head-to-head series against Auger-Aliassime 3-1, yet Auger-Aliassime emerged as the victor the last time they competed against each other at the 2022 Australian Open.
Auger-Aliassime’s preparation may be impacted by his prior marathon matches this week, both of which were fought over three sets. Nevertheless, the Canadian appears unfazed and remains determined to leverage his previous victories.
“Every match is different, and I’m learning with each one,” he remarked confidently. “Cilic is experienced, but I believe if I play to my strengths, I can compete effectively.”
The quarterfinal match against Cilic is set for Thursday and will be contested on outdoor hard courts at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre. It marks another opportunity for Auger-Aliassime to assert his status as one of the up-and-coming athletes on the ATP tour.
The stakes are high, and the crowd is eager to witness whether Auger-Aliassime can continue his winning streak and advance to the semifinals, inching closer to yet another title this season.
With two exciting quarterfinal matches scheduled, fans will also be keeping their eyes on the world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, who is set to face Tallon Griekspoor. Medvedev, after struggling for form lately, achieved straight-set victories over Jan-Lennard Struff and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. He will aim for his first title since the 2023 Rome Masters, hoping to capitalize on his dominant performance.
All eyes will be on Auger-Aliassime as he faces off against Cilic. Will the young Canadian be able to outmaneuver the seasoned veteran? Fans are buzzing with anticipation.